Three months after the WVSSAC announced the State Baseball Tournament would double in size from four to eight teams in all four classifications starting in 2026, softball is following suit while maintaining the double elimination format that previously existed.
A survey sent to member high schools presented three choices — keeping the current four-team, double elimination format, adopting an eight-team single elimination tournament or instead having an eight-team double elimination bracket, which ultimately won out and has since been approved by the WVSSAC Board of Directors.
The newly-implemented format will begin in 2026 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston with Class A and Class AA contested from Wednesday, May 27 through Friday, May 29. Following a three-day break, Class AAA and Class AAAA will finish out the season with a second three-day tournament that spans from Tuesday, June 2 through Thursday, June 4.
The WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament is scheduled to start Saturday, June 6 and conclude exactly one week later.
A bid to host the state baseball tournament will be determined in September.
High school baseball season will now start Monday, March 9.
2026 WVSSAC STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Day 1
Session 1
Game 1: No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed, 9 a.m.
Game 2: No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed, 30 minutes after Game 1
Game 3: No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed, 30 minutes after Game 2
Game 4: No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed, 30 minutes after Game 3
Session 2
Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 30 minutes after Game 5
Day 2
Session 3
Game 7: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 9 a.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 30 minutes after Game 7
Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7, 30 minutes after Game 8
Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8, 30 minutes after Game 9
Session 4
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 6:30 p.m.
Game 12: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 30 minutes after Game 11
Day 3
Session 5
Game 13: Winner of Game 12 vs. Loser of Game 11, 10:30 a.m.
Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 13, 1:30 p.m.
Game 15: Winner of Game 14 vs. Loser of Game 14 (if necessary, 30 minutes after Game 14)